Bellevue girls school teacher pleads guilty to sex with student

A former Bellevue girls school teacher accused of having a long-running sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student has pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct charges.

Charged in November with the sex crime, Deene Stuart Juncker pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, a felony.

Juncker, a 47-year-old drama teacher at Forest Ridge School, was arrested after the mother of one of his 16-year-old students told police she suspected Juncker was engaged in a relationship with her daughter.

Reviewing Juncker’s e-mail and financial records, police found evidence that the two had been sexually involved for several months, according to court documents. E-mail correspondence showed they’d stayed together at a posh Bellevue hotel and had intended to spend a summer in Europe after the girl graduated.

Confronted with the allegations in October, Juncker resigned his position at the private Catholic school.

Freed after posting bail, Juncker returned to King County Jail following his plea. He faces 15 to 20 months in prison when he is sentenced on June 26.